Christmas 2015 is Past, Except for Packing It Up!

Christmas 2015 was much different from 2014 for me!

In 2014, I had cleaned everything in my home before dragging out my Christmas decorations.  Then I had to clean again!

In late November 2015, I decided to decorate first and the vacuum out the middle, and swish the feather duster over a few things.  You know what?  Nobody even noticed the difference!

Before I began decorating, and before I did my Christmas shopping, my heart kept telling me that I needed to do something special for a particular SS class at church which, to me, seems to be overlooked most of the time.  We do special things for the little children, the teen-agers, and even the senior adults, but rarely is anything done for this class.  It has 22 people (4 guys), ranging in age from probably 20 to 60, and everyone of them is severely mentally challenged, physically challenged, or both!  I couldn't rid myself of the idea that I needed to do something for them, just me by myself, so I did!  I dug through my Christmas fabric stash, (I won't live long enough to use it all!), pulled out lots of really pretty Christmas fabrics (lots of it Moda or the like from years past), and I made a Christmas pillowcase for all 22 of them, each one different.  No kiddie or Santa fabrics; just pretty Christmas fabrics.  I sacked them individually and dropped in a little party table favor (they love things they can hold in their hands), and took the bags to their class the first Sunday in December.  You would think I had given them $1000 each!  Of course, they loved their pillowcases, but more so, they loved being remembered by someone not normally connected with them.  I'm really the one who received the blessing!  Here's some of the pillowcases:

Consequently, I didn't have time to decorate early as usual, or even do my Christmas shopping, but nobody cared!   I made do with the time I had!  The most important thing left to do was make candy, which I did!

I had five parties scheduled this year in December.  The first one, December 8, had 22 church friends, and we had a wonderful time --- lots of beautiful and tasty food, some singing carols around the piano, and just getting to visit with some newer friends.

Two days later, 19 of my high school classmates were here for our annual get-together at noon.  We are all getting too old for them to be out much at  night, but they did stay until 5 PM!  Again, lots of fun and old memories!

At some point before the parties began, I noticed that my legs were becoming very unstable, but I was determined to carry out my party plans.  After all, the invitations had already been sent for all the parties!

I had a week before the third party on December 17, but I really was stumbling around a lot --- a recurrence of the vertigo from a few months ago I thought.  No problem; this one was for the church quilters, probably about six maybe.  Our leader wanted to move the party to her home or the church, but my home was all ready, and I insisted they come here.  I agreed to let her and my best friend handle everything else, and they did a super job while I just sat around mostly.  (Not my idea of hosting a party!)  Of course, everyone who had ever quilted with us, even if not much in 2015, decided to come; there were 11 of us.  Again, more delicious food, a gift exchange, and lots of fun.   Even though I did very little, I knew a trip to the doctor soon would be necessary.  (In fact, that will happen tomorrow.)

I had to cancel two more large parties, but insisted on having my family here on Christmas Eve, and I'm glad I did that!  Again, there were 11 of us, and we had a wonderful time even though I was moving very slowly.  My grandson had come early and helped me get everything ready.  It was not until time for dessert that I realized I had never even mixed up the Cherry Dump Cake!  If someone had not brought cookies, we would have had no dessert at all!  I was really embarrassed; but it had never entered my mind!  Well..... of course, I did have plenty of my usual homemade candies --- divinity, fudge, pralines, peanut patties, peanut butter balls dipped in white chocolate, orange-coconut balls, and also TV trash (that Chex cereal mix).

And yes, every guest in my home during December, filled and took home a can of homemade candy of their own choosing!  (That's a lot of sugar!  But....I think maybe that's the reason  everyone loves to come to my home during December!)

And yes, as usual, some new Christmas things were bought in for me (so my friends and family can see them again next year, but won't have to pack them away or find a place to store them all year!  ---*giggle*)  Here's a couple of special ones from my son and his wife:

The gold lighted crystal tree  (I'm running out of places to display things!)

The lighted Gingerbread House

I really have done not one thing since Christmas Eve.  I'm enjoying being lazy a little too much probably.  .....But remember, I'm just an old lady who truly enjoys life and especially Christmas!

Maybe by February, I'll have everything packed away!

This next panel hangs on my pantry door, visible from m den and kitchen; very appropriate this year!

In the meantime, Happy New Year to All of You!

One more thing:  Saturday it was almost 80 degrees here; Sunday morning it was down to 40; today (Monday) everything much colder and covered with snow!   Now at 2 PM, it's up to 34, and the snow is slowly melting.  It will be in the 40's all week!  What a way to end 2015 in Texas!

---"Love"